Leather shaving machine



F. WAYLAND Nov. 29, 1932.

LATHER s HAv ING MACHINE 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 16 NN VE V@ jv@ s KN Inventor. Frank Wa a MM5/J Ait Nov. 29, 1932. F..WAYL.AND

LEATHER sHAvING MACHINE Filed Julyl, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fwuenta". Frank Wayin A i/s.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES FRANK WAYLAND, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS LEATHER SHAVING MACHINE Application mea July 16, 1930. serial 110.4622314.

the other hand it is highly desirable to shavev the hide before tanning since the shavings from the untanned hide have considerable commercial value and the removal of the unc desirable portions of the hide before tanning results in a saving in the tanning agent employed. The present invention provides means whereby unt-aimed hides direct from the pickle may be shaved with the same ease and accuracy as tanned hides. The general characteristics of the apparatus hereinafter set forth are illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 384,635, filed August 9, 1929 and Patent No. 1,842,366, dated Jan. 19, 1932, for similar subject matter, and the present invention is characterized by several improvements in structure and arrangement of the elements of the machine which will hereinafter be more fully eX- plained and pointed out in the appended claims.

A recommended embodiment of this invention is shown for the purpose of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the improved machine, certain parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing an upper feed roll of the machine and im- N proved means for adjusting the tension of 4f" said roll; and y Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section illustrating a preferred mode of mounting the shaft of a grinding wheel employed in the machine and adjusting its position longitudinally of the -59 machine.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a main frame having upright side members 1 and 2 which may be united in any usual manner to form a rigid support for the operating parts, and an auxiliary frame or bridge mem ber having side members 3 and 4 preferably bolted upon the top of the sides 1 and 2. At its forward part each side member 3 and 4 respectively is recessed in such a way as to provide an elongate straight guide surface which is substantially horizontal, parallel to, and spaced from the upper edge of the adacent main frame member, thereby providing guide channels 5 for a pair of slidable 65 bearing blocks 6 which support the shaft 7 of a grinding wheel 8, and the forward end of theauxiliary frame is provided with adjustable supports 9 for the shaft 10 of an up- .Y per feed roll 11 of the ma chine, as hereinafter 70 more fully described. The frame members 1 and @have suitable bearings for the shaft 12 of a rotary shaving cutter 13 arranged at the rear of the feed roll 11 and immediately in front of the grinding wheel 8. The cutter 13 may be of any desirable type, preferably employing a plurality of blades and is wide enough to extend across the entire width of a skin so as to permit the skin to be shaved in a single continuous pass through the machine, and the grinding wheel 8 is arranged to sharpen the blades in the customary manner.

A bed roll 14 having a hard rigid surface r such as is necessary toensure proper operas@ tion of the cutter 13 in performing the shaving operation, is adjustably supported at the forward end of the machine parallel to and in operative relationship with the upper feed roll 11 and the cutter 13, the support for the 90 bed roll being angularly movable to carry said roll toward and from the cutter. As here shown, the roll support comprises arms 15 and 16 fulcrumed upon a shaft 17 adjustably mounted in slots 18 near the bottom of 95 the frame members 1 and 2, so that the shaft may be moved longitudinally thereof and secured at the proper position by suitable locking means, such as nuts 19. The roll support is adapted to be swung angularly about the shaft 17 as an axis in order to adjust the position of the bed roll with respect to the rotary cutter, preferably by means of toggle mechanism comprising links 21 and 22 pivoted upon a pintle 23 which is connected b y rods 24, 24 to arms 25, 25 carried by an intermediate shaft 26. The shaft 26 has an arm 27 which is connected through a rod 28 to a treadle lever 29 carried by a shaft 30 mounted at its ends in bearings in the frame members 1 and 2, and having a foot pedal 31. The Iouter ends of the toggle links 21 are pivoted to the supports 15 and 16; and the outer ends of the links 22 are pivotally connected to the frame of the machine.

The inner end of the lever 29 is preferably provided with a counterweight 32 which tends to contract the toggle mechanism, so that the bed roll is normally drawn away from the cutter 13. An adjustable stop member 33 may be provided to limit downward movement of the treadle lever, and it is evident that such movement causes the toggle mechanism to expand, thereby moving the bed roll 14 toward the cutter. The operative effect of the toggle mechanism may be further adjusted by mounting the forward ends of the links 22 upon slidable brackets or abutments 34, 34 regulated by screws 35, 35.

The bed roll 14 may cooperate directly with the upper or pinch roll 11 to feed the material therebetween from a fixed work table 36 or other suitable support, for example a travelling belt, to the rotary cutter 13 but in order to permit the machine to shave untanned hides fresh from pickle l provide an endless feed apron 14a which passes over and partially around the bed roll 14 and about suitable guide rolls 14b and 14C carried by the swinging bed roll support. When the feed apron is employed, the table 36 may be omitted, but since the table constitutes a convenient support for the upper horizontal run of the apron, I prefer to use it in combination with the apron. If desired, the apron may be driven constantly by suitable direct driving connections to the source of power either by positively rotating the bed roll or one of the guide rolls, for example the roll 14h, but such constant power driving of the apron is not necessary for most purposes.

The pinch roll shaft supports 9 are adjustably mounted at opposite sides of the auxiliary frame by means of studs 37 slidable in slots 38 thereof and secured by lock nuts 39, so that the position of said roll may be adjusted longitudinally of the machine. The pinch roll 11 is preferably driven by a chain 40 which passes lover guide sprockets 41, 42 and 43 and about sprocket wheels on the shaft 44 on the shaft 10 of the pinch roll respectively. 1t will be noted that the guide sprockets 42 and 43 are arranged above the roll 14, one rearwardly and the other forwardly of said roll. Said sprockets accordingly exert a constant tension on the chain 40 in all adjusted positions of the pinch or feeding roll 14.

The shaft 44 is provided with a belt pulley 45 which is driven by a belt 46 passing over a pulley on the main drive shaft 47 of the machine, the shaft 47 being rotated from a suitable power source by any suitable driving mechanism. The drive shaft 47 is preferably mounted at the upper rearward portion of the machine and carries a pulley 48 having a travelling belt 49 for operating both the shaft of the grinding wheel and the shaft of the rotary cutter. Thus, as shown, the upper run of the belt 38 passes under a pulley 5() on the grinding wheel shaft 7 and thence over a pulley 51 on the shaft 12 of the rotary cutter. rllhe advantage of having the main drive shaft located at the upper part of the frame, so that the belt makes firm contact with the grind ing wheel pulley and cutter pulley, without the use of auxiliary guide pulleys, is thus apparent.

The bearing blocks 6 for the grinding wheel shaft 7 have upper and lower grooves receiving the opposed faces of the frame sides 1 and 2 and bridge sides 3 and 4, respectively, and a regulating gib 52 of common construction may be employed to compensate for irregularities in dimensions or for wear. As above stated, the blocks 6 are slidable longitudinally of the inach ne in the channels 5, and the position of the blocks is preferably adjustable by hand. To this end, the respective blocks have arms 53 receiving threaded shafts 54 carrying worm wheels 55 rotated by worms 56 on a transverse shaft 57; and the shaft 57 may have a suitable crank wheel 58 located at one side of the machine (Fig. 2). By turning the crank 58, the blocks 6v and grinding wheel 8 may accordingly be moved toward or from the cutter 13 whenever desired.

The grinding wheel 8 is splined to its shaft 7 and is slidable longitudinally thereof, in the customary manner. A movable arm 59 has a forked forward end 60 connected to the wheel 8, and the opposite end of said arm is provided with a shoe 61 riding in spiral grooves on a shaft 62, so that the arm is reciprooated transversely of the machiner upon rotation of shaft 62. Shaft 62 preferably has a sprocket pulley 63 actuated by a chain 64 passing over a sprocket 65 on a. shaft 66;

and said shaft hasa .ulle 67 driven b a belt 68 from a pulley on the driving shaft 44.

A rotatable brush 69 may be provided beneath the cutter 13 to preventl skins or hides from sticking to the cutter blades; and the brush may be rotated by a belt 70 also oper-- ated by a pulley 71 on shaft 44.

ln dealing with certain types of work, it is desirable that the bed roll 14 yield at certain points to avoidremoving an excessive .llt

amount of material from the skin being shaved. In my said prior application, Serial No. 425,810, I have described various arrangements permitting the surface of the bed roll to spring away from the cutter as a skin or hide of this type is passed therebetween, including the employment of a roll havingy a steel shaft of small diameter to afford the desired resiliency. A similar roll is shown at 111 in Fig. 3 of this application and I have devised improved mea-ns for controlling the liexure of the roll. Thus, as best shown in F ig. 3, the bed roll 14 has a small shaft 72 to permit flexing thereof, and I have provided adjusting means comprising a resilient shaft 73 fixed between pointed screws 74 and having spaced rollers 75 rotatable on said shaft upon ball or roller bearings, the shaft 73 being non-rotatable if desired. I have also provided an adjusting screw 76 bearing against the central portion of the shaft 73 for limiting the amount of flexure of said shaft. This controlling mechanism is mounted upon the bed roll supports and 16 in any suitable manner, and sa'd supports also preferably carry a rigid guide roll 77 bearing against the under side of the bed roll 14.

In operating the machine, the Work is placed upon the apron 14a, and the support carrying the apron and the bed roll 14 is then swung until the apron engages the pinch roll 11. The apron now begins to advance and carries with it the hide which is resting thereon. By this means a Wet green hide, direct from pickle,` may be presented smoothly and accurately for delivery to the cutter, a result` which can not be accomplished with a hide of this character by hand feeding to the rolls. Vhen the treadle 31 is depressed to move the supporting frame into an operative positon, the toggle connection locks the parts, thus holding them in proper position during the shaving operation. The provision of the apron, as above stated permits shaving a wet hide direct frompickle and while full and plump, which gives substantially the same results as when a. tanned hide is shaved, but with a very substantial saving in labor costs. On the other hand when green hides are c eprived of a portion of their moisture by compression prior to shaving, the hide becomes so thin that the shaving operation can not be accurately done, and. further shaving may be necessary after tanning. Moreover as already pointed out, compression ofthe hide at this stage slows down the tanning operation, while by shaving the green hide, jthe action of the cutter opens the hide so that the tanning solution may readily penetrate it.

In the operation of the machine, the work is fed beneath the pinch roll 11 and between the apron 14L and the rotary cutter 13, the pressure applied by the bed roll being regulated through the toggle connection by means of the treadle lever 3l. rlhe mainl driving shaft may be rotated by any suitable source of power to operate the pinch roll,y the cutter and its grinding wheel, the brush and the mechanism for traversing the grinding wheel, and it will be noted that the several rotatable elements are satisfactorily operated by a minimum number of pulleys and belts.

By the provision of the apron 14 I find it possible to present pickled untanned hides to the rotary shaving cutter so that the hide is shaved with the same certainty as a tanned hide, thus not only economizing` in material, but by reason of the opening action of the cutter on the hide, I find that the subsequent tanning operation is facilitated.

I claim:

1. A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter, a bed roll movable toward and from the cutter, an angularly movable support for the bed roll, the support being pivoted at its lower end adjacent the bottom of the machine, means for adjusting the pivot longitudinally of the machine, an abutment disposed in the path of movement of said support, toggle mechanism connecting the support with said abutment, and means for operating the toggle mechanism to move said support on its pivot and thereby adjust the position of the bed roll relative to the cutter.

2. A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter, a bed roll mov-V able toward and from the cutter, an angularly movable support for the bed roll, the support being pivoted at its lower end adjacent the bottom of the machine, means for adjusting the pivot longitudinally7 of the machine,.an abutment disposed in the path of movement of said support, toggle mechanism connecting the support with said abutment, means for adjusting the yposition of said abutment longitudinally of the machine, and means for operating the toggle mechanism to move said support on its pivot and thereby adjust the position of the bed roll relative to the cutter.

3. A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter, a bed roll movable toward and from the cutter, angular-ly movable supports for the bed roll, the supports being pivoted at theirr lower ends adacent the ybottom of the machine and at opposite sides thereof, means for adiusting the pivot longitudinally7 of the machine, abutments disposed in the path of movement of said supports, toggle mechanism connecting the supports With said abutments, said mechanism comprising pairs of toggle links arranged at opposite sides of the machine, a horizontal shaft intermediate the top and bottom of the machine. a pair of rods connecting' said pairs of links to said shaft, a treadle lever, and a central rod connecting the treadle lever to the shaft, sok that operation of the treadle lever causes the toggle mechanism to move the bed roll supports thereby to adjust the position of said roll relative to the cutter.

cent the bottom of the machine and at opposite sides thereof, means for adjusting the pivot longitudinally of the machine, abutments disposed in the path of movement of said supports, toggle mechanism connecting the supports with said abutments, said mechanism comprising pairs of toggle linl-:s arranged at opposite sides of the machine, a horizontal shaft intermediate the top and bottom of the machine, a pair of rods Connecting said pairs of links to said shaft, a treadle lever, and a` centra-l rod connecting the treadle lever to the shaft, so that operation of the treadle lever causes the toggle mechanism to move the bed roll supports thereby to adjust the position. of said roll relative to the cutter, the treadle lever being pivoted adjacent the bottom of the machine and having a countervveighted end so that the toggle mechanism is normally contracted to hold the bed roll away from the cutter.

A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter disposed transversely of the frame, a bridge mounted on top of the frame, said bridge comprising side members each having an elongate surface parallel to and spaced from the frame whereby longitudinal channels are provided at opposite sides of the machine, bearing blocks slidable vin said channels, va grinding Wheel having a shaft rotatable in said blocks, and means for adjusting the blocks in the respectivev channels to vary the position of the grinding wheel relative to the cutter.

6. A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter disposed transverselv of the frame, a bridge mounted on top of the frame, said bridge comprising side members each recessed at its forward portion, the upper wall of each recess being substantially straight, parallel to, and spaced from the frame whereby longitudinal channels are formed at opposite sides of the machine, bearing blocks slidable in said channels, a grinding wheel having a shaft rotatable in said blocks. the blocks having arms projecting therefrom, screw-threaded shafts received in openings in the respective arms, and common means for rotating said shafts to adjust the slidable blocks and vary the position of the grinding wheel relative to the cutter.

G7. A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter disposed transversely of the frame, a bridge mounted on top of the frame. the bridge and frame having spaced, parallel and substantially horizontal surfaces defining longitudinal channels at opposite sides of the machine, bearing blocks slidable in said channels, a grinding wheel having a shaft rotatable in said blocks, and means for adjusting the blocks in the respective channels to vary the position of the grinding wheel relative to the cutter, the wheel being movable longitudinally of its shaft, and means independent of said adjusting means for traversing the grinding wheel on said shaft.

8. A leather shaving machine comprising a. frame, a rotatable cutter disposed transversely of the frame, a bridge mounted on top of the frame, said bridge having horizontal surfaces, at opposite sides, which are spaced from and parallel to the upper lateral edges respectively of the frame whereby longitudinal channels are formed at opposite sides of the machine, bearing blocks slidable in said channels, a grinding wheel having a shaft rotatable in said blocks, and means for adjusting the blocks in the respective channels to vary the position of the grinding wheel relative to the cutter, a driving shaft disposed transversely of the machine at the upper portion thereof, and means actuated by said driving shaft for rotating both the cutter and the grinding wheel shaft.

9. A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter disposed transversely of the frame, a grinding wheel arranged in operative relationship to the cutter and havi ng a rotatable shaft, means for adjusting the grinding wheel in a front to rear direction, a driving shaft mounted at the upper portion of the machine rearwardly of the cutter and grinding wheel, the cutter, grinding wheel shaft and driving shaft having pulleys thereon, and a common belt passing over said pulleys whereby said belt is operative to rotate both the cutter and grinding Wheel.

l0. A leather shaving machine comprising a frame, a rotatable cutter disposed transversely of the frame, an upper feeding roll disposed parallel to the cutter, a bed roll mounted beneath said feeding roll and movable toward and from the cutter, the feeding roll having a shaft provided with a sprocket, a driving' sprocket, a chain connecting said sprockets whereby said roll is positively rotated, and guide sprockets in the path of said chain operative to tension the latter, said feeding roll being adjustable longitudinally of the frame, the respective guide pulleys being fixed in position and disposed forwardly and rearwardly and on the same side vertically of said roll. so that the tension of the chain is maintained in all adjusted positions of the feeding roll.

11. A leather shaving machine comprising a rotary shaving cutter, and means including an endless feed apron operative to present a hide to the cutter and a hard surfaced roll of small diameter relative to that of the cutter constituting a support for the apron adjacent to the cutter.

12. A leather shaving machine comprising a rotary sha-ving cutter, an endless apron operative to present the Work to the cutter, a movable support for the apron including a hard surfaced roll of small diameter relative to that of the cutter and forming a support for the apron adjacent to the cutter, and means normally tending to move the support with the apron away from the cutter.

18. A leather shaving machine comprising a rotary shaving cutter, an endless apron operative to present the Work to the cutter, a movable support for the apron, said support having a pivotal axis adjacent to the base of the machine, and means for adjusting said axis in a front to rear direction.

14. A leather shaving machine comprising a rotary cutter, a bed roll, a movable support for the bed roll Whose axis is disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane as that of the cutter, a Work table carried by the support, an endless feed apron having a substantially horizontal run overlying the table and engaging the bed roll, the bed roll being capable of springing laterally at its central portion, rigid abutment means for limiting such spring, and means for moving the support with the bed roll, table and apron toward and from the cutter.

15. A leather shaving machine comprising` a rotary cutter, an endless apron operative to present the Work to the cutter,a movable support for the apron including a hard surfaced bed roll, and a power driven pinch roll cooperating With the apron whereby the Work is fed to the cutter.

16. A leather shaving machine comprising` a rotary cutter, a hard surfaced bed roll carrying an endless apron operative toI present the Work to the cutter, th-e axis of the bed roll and cutter being in substantially the same horizontal plane, a movable support for the bed roll and apron, a pinch roll cooperat ing with the apron and bed roll, normally fixed bearings for the pinch roll, and means for driving the pinch roll.

17. A leather shaving machine comprising a rotary cutter, a hard surfaced bed roll carrying an endless apron operative to present the Work to the cutter, a movable support for the bed roll, a pinch roll cooperating With the bed roll, normally fixed but adjustable bearings for the pinch roll, and means for driving the pinch roll in all positions of adjustment thereof.

18. A leather shaving machine comprising a rotary cutter, a bed roll, a support for the bed roll, said bed roll having a yieldable surface, and a plurality of supporting rolls for the bed roll, the shaft of one at least of the supporting rolls being flexible, and means for limiting the yield of said supporting roll.

19. A leather shaving machine comprising a rotary cutter, a bed roll, a support for the bed roll, said bed roll having a yielding surface, and means for controlling` the yield of said roll comprising a normally fixed resilient supporting shaft, said latter shaft carrying a plurality of freely rotatable rollers engaging the bed roll, and means for limiting the flexure of the supporting shaft.

20. Apparatus for shaving Wet hides While plump and full Which comprises a substantially flat surface upon Which an entire hide may be spread smoothly, a rotary shaving cutter, a hard surfaced bed roll of small diameter relative to that of the cutter for sustaining the hide in operative relation to the cutter during shaving, and means for advancing said hide supporting surface With the hide thereon for presenting the hide to the shaving cutter.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 141th day of July, 1930.

FRANK WAYLAND. 

